APRIL 23, 2019 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
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Anzac Day’s dawn climb More than 3000 people are expected at this year’s Mount Macedon Anzac Day dawn service on April 25. Mount Macedon Anzac Day Dawn Service committee chair Bruce Mildenhall said a lot of work had gone into ensuring that the content and quality of this year’s service at the Mount Macedon Memorial Cross contributed to the strong tradition of past events. Wreaths will be laid to commemorate war service personnel. The service will begin at 5.45am. Access roads to Mount Macedon will be closed and free shuttle buses will run from various locations and Sunbury to the memorial service. Bookings are essential. Book at: bit. ly/2UZjF7F A shuttle bus will also run from Tony Clarke Recreation Reserve in Macedon from 4.15am through to 5.20am. Bookings are not required for this service. Details: mtmacedondawnservice.org Gisborne RSL president Robin Funston (front) with Ray Beyer and Braemar College captains William Somers and Scout Seeley. (Shawn Smits)
Jessica Micallef
Cops call for 24/7 station By Jessica Micallef The police union is calling for all police stations across the Macedon Ranges to open 24/7 following the discovery of a 61-year-old Gisborne man’s body on Rodney Street on April 14. Homicide squad detectives charged a 55-year-old Gisborne man with one count of murder last week. Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt said the accused man tried to turn himself in at Gisborne police station on Sunday night but the
station was closed. Mr Gatt said that when the alleged killer approached the police station, the doors were locked and there was only a single divisional patrol officer on duty. He said the accused man pressed a buzzer, which goes through to the Kyneton police station. It is understood that police at Kyneton then notified the divisional patrol officer in Gisborne. “He [the Gisborne officer] then came out the front of the police station alone,” Mr Gatt said. He said the events “highlighted a whole
range of issues” that were putting police and the public in danger. “He was rostered to work alone, which is a problem within itself – it points to a lack of resources. “It’s a Sunday night at 7pm … it is a 100 per cent unsafe work practice to be put in a position like that. It’s a fluke that he was at the station.” Mr Gatt said Gisborne police had been calling for the town’s station to be open 24 hours a day since 2012, but had been unable to do so. “Police within the local community have
been calling for additional resources,” he said. “They [Gisborne] need two additional sergeants and 10 troops. “Woodend station has been closed for two years and the Macedon police station will be closed for some time in the future. “This is pointing to a situation which would do one of two things – put members at risk or reduce in a significant way the services available to the local community.” The accused killer appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday, April 15 and was remanded in custody until August 20.